School of Music graduate named 2005 MacArthur Fellow

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---A School of Music graduate is among 25 new MacArthur Fellows announced today (Sept. 20) by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Aaron Dworkin in Detroit, as well as other Fellows, will each receive $500,000 over the next five years in what the foundation describes as support with no strings attached.

Dworkin, 35, is founder and president of Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, which strives to increase the number of African-Americans and Latinos having careers in classical music. His efforts seek to counter young people's perception that classical music careers face insurmountable barriers by providing them with rigorous training, affordable instruments and performance opportunities.

He began by organizing an annual national competition for minority string players. His programs grew rapidly to encompass an orchestra entirely composed of African-American and Latino musicians; a summer training program for underprivileged string players; music education outreach programs in Detroit public schools; an instrument fund for players unable to afford them; and a scholarship fund for deserving musicians who otherwise could not go on for advanced training.

Dworkin, a violinist, received a bachelor's degree in music in 1997 and a master's in music in 1998 from U-M. In 1996, he founded Sphinx with a $40,000 U-M "New Century Fund for Diversity" grant---half of his budget then. Support from his former School of Music professor Steve Shipps and Kenneth Fischer, president of the U-M Musical Society, enabled his idea for Sphinx to become a reality.

"Sphinx would have never have come to fruition without the University's assistance in multiple ways," he said, citing the faculty's time, resources and encouragement.

Dworkin said he is uncertain how he'll use the money, but he feels "a tremendous level of responsibility" to continue his efforts.

"One of my greatest challenges is to bring long-term stability to Sphinx's work through building an endowment, and this recognition and visibility of our mission will ideally have a very positive impact on that goal," he said.

MacArthur Fellows are selected for their creativity, originality and potential. By providing resources without stipulations or reporting requirements, the MacArthur Foundation offers the opportunity for Fellows to accelerate their current activities or take their work in new directions.

"The new MacArthur Fellows illustrate our conviction that talented individuals, free to follow their insights and instincts, will make a difference in shaping the future," said Daniel Socolow, director of the MacArthur Fellows Program.

With assets of approximately $5 billion, the foundation has awarded more than $3 billion in grants since it began operations in 1978. Including this year's group, 707 people have been named MacArthur Fellows since the program's inception in 1981.

For additional information about the MacArthur Foundation, visit /www.macfound.org.